OXFORD, Ohio – Western Michigan collected its 26th overall and 19th NCHC victory of the season in a 5-2 win over Miami on Saturday night at Goggin Ice Center. WMU's 19 victories in conference play match the league record for a single season. 

Grant Slukynsky tallied two goals on the night, while Zach Nehring, Ty Henricks and Cam Knuble each added one a piece. In net, Hampton Slukynsky earned his 11th win of the season. 

FIRST PERIOD
WMU was given a tripping penalty early in the opening period, and the RedHawks cashed in on the man advantage. Miami took the lead 1-0 just under three minutes into the game. 

Western Michigan would get a power play of its own a few minutes later, as Miami was sent off for tripping. Alex Bump and Liam Valente had shots on the man advantage, but MU would work back to even strength. 

The RedHawks would get sent back to the box a few minutes later. This time for high sticking. In the opening seconds of the man advantage, Owen Michaels hit the post on a rebound out front. Eventually, Slukynsky would rip a shot just under the bar to tie the game at 1-1. 

MU was given another penalty with under two minutes to play in the opening frame. WMU carried 23 seconds of power-play time into the second period. 

SECOND PERIOD
Miami did well to kill off the remaining time on the man advantage, but the RedHawks were assessed another penalty moments after that one expired. WMU would get four shots on the man advantage, but MU was again able to get back to even strength. 

Playing 4-on-4, Slukynsky was able to tally his second goal of the night. He twisted out front and fired a shot into the back of the net to make it 2-1 just under nine minutes into the frame. 

WMU would kill off a penalty of its own and go right back to work on offense. Nehring tapped home a nice crossing pass from Valente to make it 3-1 WMU with under 10 minutes to play in the period. With under six minutes to play, Western Michigan killed off another power play. 

Down the stretch of the period, the Brown and Gold had one more rush in them. Henricks got a nice stretch pass from Garrett Szydlowski and converted on his seventh goal of the season. That made it 4-1 going to the third and final frame. 

THIRD PERIOD
The Broncos got great looks from Valente and Cole Crusberg-Roseen to start the period. From there, Slukynsky nearly collected a hat trick. His shot was blocked out front and pushed away from trouble. 

A little bit later, Bump tried to work some magic. He stole a puck in the offensive zone and shot the puck between his legs. MU's goaltender was able to make the save and keep it a three goal WMU lead with about 11 minutes to play. 

Knuble then made a gritty play to intercept a Miami pass that deflected into the goal for a 5-1 Western Michigan lead. The goal was his fifth of the season. The RedHawks would respond, getting the game back to 5-2 with about seven minutes to play. 

Down the stretch, the Brown and Gold would get a few more quality on chances on net. However, the Broncos wouldn't add anything else to the scoreboard. WMU closed out a 5-2 victory and collected its 26th win of the season. 

UP NEXT
Western Michigan will take on St. Cloud State next weekend at Lawson Arena as part of the NCHC Quarterfinals. Puck drop for Friday's series opener is set for 7 PM.